Ashes 2025-26: ‘They are trying to win Test matches rather than just entertain’ – Nathan Lyon lauds England’s ‘changed’ approach

Nathan Lyon and Ben Stokes arguing with Ravindra Jadeja (Source: ICC and Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon opined that England have tweaked their approach to Test cricket and are now looking to win games rather than just trying to entertain the fans. His remarks come ahead of the highly-anticipated Ashes, which will be hosted by Australia later this year.

England recently drew a five-match Test series 2-2 against a spirited Indian side. The Three Lions lost the last Test at The Oval by six runs to squander a chance to win the series and start their World Test Champions (WTC) 2025-2027 campaign on a high.

However, Lyon noted that England have some dangerous players in their ranks like the in-form Joe Root and skipper Ben Stokes, who can win matches by themselves.

“That’s the way they’re playing their cricket, which is totally fine by me. It’s shaping up for one hell of a summer. I think their approach has changed a little bit. They’ve got some stars in their cricket side who can win games of cricket off their own back. Joe Root, Ben Stokes and these guys,” Lyon said as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald.

“But it looks to me like they’ve totally changed their approach, and they’re trying to think about how to win games of cricket rather than just being pure entertainers. And they’ve played some decent cricket over the last little while,” Lyon added.

Root finished as the second-highest run-getter against India, having amassed 537 runs in nine innings at a staggering average of 67.12. He slammed three centuries during the series. On the other hand, Stokes scored 304 runs and took 17 wickets from four matches, averaging 43.43 and 25.24 in the two departments, respectively.

England will have their task cut out during the Ashes as they have not won a Test match in Australia since January 2011, as they sealed the Ashes 3-1. In the previous edition of the Ashes, England drew 2-2 at home under Stokes’ leadership. Australia currently have possession of the prestigious urn, having won the series in 2021-22.

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